A comparative study of IV labetalol with oral nifedipine in severe preeclampsia

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous Labetalol over Nifedipine in severe preeclampsia patients and to study the effect of Labetalol on maternal and fetal outcome in severe preeclampsia patients. Methodology: This is a prospective comparative study in antenatal mother with sever preeclampsia done from June 2017 and May 2018. All the data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: Among 50 study patient population 25 patients received oral nifedipine (group A) and 25 patients received i.v. Labetalol (group B). Result shows that from1 hr to 6 hrs the mean systolic BP in the labetalol group was found to be lower than nifedipine group and mean diastolic BP from 1 hr to 6 hrs in the labetalol group was found to be lower than nifedipine group. 32% of antenatal mothers in the nifedipine group delivered before 36 weeks whereas in labetalol group only 4% of antenatal mothers delivered before 36 weeks. 32% of newborn, born to the mothers in the nifedipine group required NICU admission whereas in the labetalol group it was only 4%. Conclusion: Thus, concluded that both the drugs were found to be safe and effective in the reduction of blood pressure. But intravenous labetalol showed a rapid reduction of blood pressure at a shorter duration with a minimal dosage compared to oral nifedipine along with a lower incidence of preterm and lesser admission to NICU among the antenatal mothers treated with labetalol compared to oral nifedipine.